Howard Webb Retires From Football

Popular English referee Howard Webb has announced his retirement from football after being given the position of technical director of the official referees’ association. 

The 43-year-old referee had started his career in 1989 and came up from the Northern Counties and Football League to later become the 2010 World Cup final referee. Webb took part in all the major international championships and officiated in every major domestic final. At this year’s World Cup final in Brazil he officiated the Group C clash between Colombia and Ivory Coast, and the first knockout match between Brazil and Chile.

Webb said:

“Refereeing has given me so much and I think it’s important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge.”

Webb will now be responsible for the overseeing the technical direction and standards which govern match officials. “The current Select Group are the best referees this country has ever produced and I am thrilled that I not only get the chance to continue working with them but also the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Select Group officials,” he added. “It’s an incredibly positive working environment and we all have a common goal of improving refereeing.”